Having been bitten bad by the tarpon bug, I am looking for a few good men to go where the wild things live for a weekend of exploration and chance in pursuit of tarpon. A weekend warrior jaunt into tarpon country, and quickly before the stripers arrive.

After witnessing the relationship between tropical lagoons and tarpon populations, having jumped 11 tarpon and a snook in less than two hours recently, I am hooked and started searching for locations where quick sorties would be possible. Preferably US but not limited to, something requiring no vacation days (I am fresh out of 'em).

I came up with Puerto Rico, San Juan to be specific. The area is thick with lagoons, and there are tarpon. In fact a 158 pound fish was caught in the airport lagoon at San Juan. The surrounding area within easy shot of a rental car is also rich with lagoons, some of them in wildlife preserves.

Ameneties abound in this metropolitan area, so it would accomodate such a sortie in terms of conveniences like groceries, cheap hotels, major car rental firms, etc.

The flights are running about $258 round trip non-stop on American Airlines right now (fees and taxes applied to about $300 and change).

With four in the midsize car and splitting a place to tie flies between days this could be the cheapest trip for tarpon in the history of man (excluding residents). Or it could be a total bust, but then so can a trip to the local farm pond.

I am currently researching skiff rental which would keep us right in the San Juan lagoon system. Other options include a search of the areas lagoons within driving distance.

Just located 16ft Carolina Skiff rentals for $150 / day within proximity of mangrove creeks and bonefish flats, large bonefish photos on the website... but this is a tarpon hunt.

They also have 18ft deep vees etc.

Hey Juro,

Puerto Rico is excellent, specially Laguna Verde, it is the tourist district of PR, where all the large hotels and resorts are located. Conditions are the same as the one I described earlier (Early Morning & Late Afternoon + Rainy/Cloudy days as long as it is not too windy.

I would have come with you guys for a week end (been fishing there already), but since the US Passport thing applied in october, we, the french guys living in the caribbean, have to wait untill july to get new passport and enter USA.

I have been once on the NorthEastern coast of PR, Where 2 rivers are flowing into the ocean, and had a good time fishing between murky and clearwater, jumped more than 20, broke off 4 or 5 times, but these are not babies.

If you are going to try Laguna Verde or any other lagoon, try to chose your fish, I am not kidding, depending on the tides, you have some VERY LARGE fish mixed up with babies. Anyway, it will be great fun 4 u. No doubt.

If needed I will provide you guys, with a few pictures of flies that have worked for me in the caribbean lagoons, and a few tips about areas in PR. (a PR friend is living here in st martin)

Regards

Jean Marc

__________________We all have our own private Holly Grail that we are pursuing while spending time on the water. Let's share the knowledge, so we can all acheive our quest.

Tin pusher - the rooster clave has not died but on the Baja side it's reputed to be a June venture and we'd have to go to Costa Rica to get off season shots at roosters. It's much harder to research the logistics down there because of lack of people who have done what we are planning whereas Baja has a lot of previous wingnut explorers like us.

Are you going this week? Did you find some good info we could not dig up on early roosters in Mex?

Details:

Flight to San Juan Friday PM after a reasonable work day (from BOS under $300 r/t non-stop)

first arrival gets rental car
hotel close by (TBD)

Option #1 -
Skiff in San Juan Lagoon area
* still trying to nail down the one on the main island vs. Culebra
* intensive coverage of one area
* catching focused rather than recon focused

Option #2 -
Explore by car
* Hit a number of lagoons in a planned route
* hit the Laguna Verde outlet where webstain hooked a lot
* recon focused rather than catching focused

My preference is to assess the potential for a quick, cheap US tarpon destination for claves to come. I want to locate a lot of tarpon, but jumping a few would be extra credit and landing one would be gravy.

If your objective is to hook as many as possible on the first visit then let me know I am not stubborn, also you might consider jumping on a skiff with Omar or an area guide and letting me explore and document the island's lagoons with the rental car.

Thoughts?

The tarpon are there year-round with the peak of the baitfish surface activity in the fall so what we determine now can be applied to curing future tarpon jones which are inevitable with a cheap airfare and a small amount of time invested (weekend).

I went Juro but as I do not speak Spanish finding out info was impossible. Had fun fishing with my son though. See "La Paz Guide recomendations" for the details.

I will be flying from Seattle so I am all for staying a little longer, like maybe 7-10 days. That goes for both the Rooster and Tarpon Cave. As I have never hooked a Tarpon my goals are clear.
#1 Land one
#2 Jump a bunch
#3 Don't become the mosquitos latest blood bank

I will worry about size another trip, for now i just want one on the end of my rod.